Steven Pressley says it is “realistic” that Carlisle United can take six points from two challenging away games against promotion rivals.

The Blues now face successive long trips on the road to face Colchester and Newport.

Both opponents are in the race, this weekend’s hosts Colchester a point and a place above the seventh-placed Cumbrians.

Newport remain 15th but still have a game in hand as a result of their recent FA Cup exploits, which could yet see them make progress in a tight division.

It is a double-header that will see the Cumbrians put in 1,192 miles on the road.

Pressley and his side are seeking a return to form after back-to-back defeats against Crewe and MK Dons.

The United boss said: “We have two games on the road – and they are two games we have to be realistic about winning.

“As I have said before, if we want to go up, we have to win these types of games and that doesn’t change.

“Of course there are going to be setbacks along the way, but we have to minimise those and ensure we get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

“We have to respond to [the MK defeat], react to the disappointment and handle what comes with being in this position, where there’s a pressure and expectation.

“We have to keep responding to that.”

Pressley’s preparation for Saturday’s game in Essex will see a number of key selection decisions.

The Blues boss must decide whether Mark Cullen has put himself in contention to start after the loan striker played 62 minutes in Tuesday’s reserve friendly at Oldham.

The fitness of defenders Danny Grainger and Tom Parkes, who both missed the MK game with injuries, will also be a factor.

Skipper Grainger is believed to be more likely to return than centre-half Parkes.

Pressley says he will keep faith with the style of attacking football his players showed in the first half against MK, with the likes of Stefan Scougall and Callum O’Hare to the fore.

“We lost a couple of key players in the window, but the important thing was I think we brought in good players - and I really believe we have,” United’s boss said.

“I think we’re a team that can score a lot of goals, if we keep playing that type of football.

“Those players are fast, agile, creative and, if truth be told, that’s the type of football I want to see – the type of football that gets supporters off their seats.”

Pressley is also continuing to assess the claims of trialist striker Kingsley Eshun, the 19-year-old former QPR player.

He scored in the Oldham friendly after featuring on the right of Carlisle’s attack.

Speaking to United’s website, first-team coach Paul Murray said: “He [Eshun] did well even though he hasn’t played out on the right before. He’s more of a hold-up man down the middle.

“He scored a good goal at the back stick and he did okay throughout the game.

“He’ll stay with us for the rest of the week and we’ll take it from there.”

Colchester have doubts over both Harry Pell and Tom Lapslie for Saturday’s game due to hamstring injuries.